Crown Tower [Sep 1, 2018]

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

This is a Buddy Read for The Crown Tower by Michael J. Sullivan starting September 1, 2018.

[Andorion]

In

[Chris]

I'll join. It's a reread for me but I have an audiobook I want to listen to.

[Diana Stormblessed]

In

[Melissa]

In as well!

I'm so glad there is more Riyria to help me through my Revelations withdrawal. (My brain knew there was more, but I got misty at The End all the same.)

I started laughing out loud right from the author's note.

"My wife－let's call her Robin (because that's her name)－ has developed an infatuation for Hadrian Blackwater. I'm not sure how I feel able enabling my wife's relationship with another man, but at least I know this guy is trustworthy."
*high fives Robin for convincing her husband to write more*

[Siobhan]

Melissa wrote: "In as well!

I'm so glad there is more Riyria to help me through my Revelations withdrawal. (My brain knew there was more, but I got misty at The End all the same.)

I started laughing out loud ri..."

Haha that's excellent!! 😅

[Diana Stormblessed]

Melissa wrote: "In as well!

I'm so glad there is more Riyria to help me through my Revelations withdrawal. (My brain knew there was more, but I got misty at The End all the same.)

I started laughing out loud ri..."

Lol, I love that

[Timelord Iain]

I forgot about this...oops

[Andorion]

3 chapters done. Great introduction to Hadrian so far.

I am getting this mental image of him being the (view spoiler)[ sole spokesman for common sense on the boat going slowly crazy as the others get more and more paranoid (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

Starting this later tonight...

[Andorion]

7 chapters done.

Ok so that took a dark turn....

[Andorion]

10 chapters and at last!

[Beste]

I finished. I've to say, the first half of the book was mehhh.
Gwen parts were mehh as well. Only after Royce and Hadrian got together the story started becoming interesting.
(view spoiler)[It was fun to see Hadrian so naive and Royce kind of more aggressive than he was in Revelations (hide spoiler)]

[Andorion]

13 chapters.

Royce is extremely Royce. Very very hardcore.

This book has so many hints for Revelations! I am spotting them everywhere.

So far I actually like this book more than Revelations.

[Melissa]

Started finally last night and 9 chapters done. I find this first volume going faster than the first in Revelations. The Crown Conspiracy had me guessing motives which was interesting too in its own way. But here because I'm already invested in the characters, the anticipation is buzzing to see familiar faces appear and interact. I'm loving the little Easter Egg references to Revelations.

[Diana Stormblessed]

Just finally started it today. Hope to have more input tomorrow.

[Loriidae]

I have started as well. Part way through chapter 3. The audio is ok.

[Victor]

Arkadeb wrote: "13 chapters.

Royce is extremely Royce. Very very hardcore.

This book has so many hints for Revelations! I am spotting them everywhere.

So far I actually like this book more than Revelations."

I believe a while back Michael was asked if he'd ever do a book on Royce's past. If I recall, his answer was that it might a bit too hardcore.

[Choko]

Up to Ch 6... I love getting to know Gwen. This life of hers and the other girls is just... Horrifying!

[Choko]

Ch. 7... (view spoiler)[ Was that whole thing on the barge a set up, some con-show? WTH? (hide spoiler)]

[Diana Stormblessed]

Choko wrote: "Up to Ch 6... I love getting to know Gwen. This life of hers and the other girls is just... Horrifying!"

I agree. I'm actually enjoying her chapters.

[Loriidae]

Choko wrote: "Ch. 7... [spoilers removed]" (view spoiler)[Yes wierd, it sounds like a con / set up but where did the barge end up? There was supposedly only one destination! And is thd man in the hood friend or foe? I am thinking friend but that is a guess at this stage. (hide spoiler)]

[Melissa]

Choko wrote: "Up to Ch 6... I love getting to know Gwen. This life of hers and the other girls is just... Horrifying!"

Same here. I'm really glad to get more of Gwen's story. Her introduction is horrifying, but seeing her strength of character firsthand shows why Royce and Hadrian have such respect for her. I can't wait to see how they meet.

[Choko]

Loriidae, we do find out a bit later😀

[Choko]

Diana and Melissa, exactly! I constantly think, goodness, how are the girls going to get out of the mess that asshole is planning for them and my only hope is our guys somehow appearing just in the nick of time... That is my hope anyway...

[Choko]

Up to Ch. 14... Gosh, Hadrian is so much like me! I used to say all the things that could get me in trouble juat in a friendly conversation and not even notice... I can't lie for anything 😊

[Choko]

Ch. 14.... Noooooo! Not (view spoiler)[ Pickles! That is just not right! (hide spoiler)]

[Diana Stormblessed]

I'm about half way. (view spoiler)[ I guessed that the woman was the killer on the boat and that the hooded man was Royce. Still fun to watch it unfold. (hide spoiler)]

[Victor]

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "I'm about half way. [spoilers removed]"

I'm guessing you read Revelations first? (view spoiler)[ I read Crown Tower first and thought the person who turned out to be Royce was the killer. (hide spoiler)]

[Andorion]

Almost done.

So this is how Hadrian brings Royce over. Impressive

[Andorion]

Choko wrote: "Ch. 14.... Noooooo! Not [spoilers removed]"

Exactly! I really liked (view spoiler)[ him! Such an eager and helpful person (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

So, I finished and I really enjoyed it! The only thing I can say is, what a sneaky tricky Professor we have on our hands¡!😯

[Diana Stormblessed]

Adrian wrote: "Diana Stormblessed wrote: "I'm about half way. [spoilers removed]"

I'm guessing you read Revelations first? [spoilers removed]"

Yes, I read revelations first.. I can see how the experience would be way different if you read them a different order.

[Loriidae]

This is my first Sullivan book I'm at the end of chapter 14. It's sort of fallen off the rails for me. The tavern scene talking ales really dragged. The story feels rather forced like these characters had to come together at certain places in order to make future stories work. I wasn't sure when starting whether to read in published order or chronological order. I find it is a very talented writer that brings characters together naturally and ties into events that have already occurred. it all seems rather flimsy the professors reasoning for putting them together so unless that becomes more it's yeah falling into a bit of a heap. I completely skipped the author's introduction in case it was too spoilerish maybe that is an issue to my reasoning, plus I dislike reading out of chronological order. :)

[Diana Stormblessed]

Loriidae wrote: "This is my first Sullivan book I'm at the end of chapter 14. It's sort of fallen off the rails for me. The tavern scene talking ales really dragged. The story feels rather forced like these charact..."

I agree (view spoiler)[that putting them together felt forced. And there's still no real reason given. I read Revelations first so I know how the story goes but I like my books to stand on their own, and if this was my first Riyria book I'd be giving the professor some serious this-is-bs side eye. And if I were them I'd say ✌️ and go my own way. (hide spoiler)]

[Diana Stormblessed]

I finished. While I enjoyed it, (view spoiler)[the forcing of the relationship felt forced. Those who have read Revelations know the professor's reasoning, but those that haven't don't. And neither do Royce or Hadrian but they're still like, "yeah, cool, let's be partners"? I mean, ok, Royce was a little more reluctant but Hadrian goes along with it way too easily. Professor didn't even give an explanation of why he all of a sudden wanted them to partner up. (hide spoiler)]

[Choko]

I agree with both of you. It just doesn't stand well on its own, but fits right in with the other series... I guess this is why I enjoyed the girls story most...

[Melissa]

Aw! I finished Chapter 14 and (view spoiler)[Pickles being executed was such a suckerpunch. I was already wondering whether he would features in any of the sequels. I guess not... ;_; ) (hide spoiler)]

[Melissa]

Finished chapter 18 with a terrible sense of foreboding. (view spoiler)[It just now occurred to me that Rose may very well be The Rose and Thorn's namesake... Oh no, I don't want to know what happens to her! ToT ) (hide spoiler)]

[Melissa]

Oh, btw after finishing I unapologetically went on to start The Rose and the Thorn. I'll see about popping my head into that thread as well when it comes up.

I can totally see how reading this first without having the Revelations back(fore-)story would be less appealing. I think Sullivan was very careful about not including any spoilers, but as a result the motivations are weakened without that frame of reference.

[Loriidae]

Melissa wrote: "Oh, btw after finishing I unapologetically went on to start The Rose and the Thorn. I'll see about popping my head into that thread as well when it comes up.

I can totally see how reading this fir..."

That makes sense thanks

[Choko]

Hhhjmmm, when do we start the next one?

[Loriidae]

October 1

[Choko]

Cool! Thank you 😊

[Timelord Iain]

I kept forgetting about this... probably because it's jumbled in the Master List as if it's in the middle of September... I'll join super late I guess... too late for bonus points but oh well...

[Jackie]

I'm reading this one, halfway through, and enjoying it. It's great to read about Hadrian and Royce again.

[Victor]

Timelord Iain wrote: "I kept forgetting about this... probably because it's jumbled in the Master List as if it's in the middle of September... I'll join super late I guess... too late for bonus points but oh well..."

Don't worry over being late. I'm actually super early in that I read it years ago. It's a great book either way.

[Melissa]

Oh yeah I also got confused for a moment trying to find it in the Master List the first time. For those reading the book currently, I'd be glad to hear what you think.

[Timelord Iain]

This was more a case of me being scatterbrained lately... in one ear and out the other... I talked about this book to Siobhan a few weeks ago when she changed her BR tracker name...

[Siobhan]

Yeah, I should probably change the name of my tracker again because I definitely don't have time to read this 🙈 :'(